Sibbertoft (St. Helen)

SIBBERTOFT (St. Helen), a parish, in the union
of Market-Harborough, hundred of Rothwell, N.
division of the county of Northampton, 3 miles
(N. E.) from Welford; containing 437 inhabitants. The
parish is on the borders of Leicestershire, and comprises 2021 acres of land: the river Welland rises in
the garden of the incumbent. The living is a vicarage,
formerly annexed to that of Welford, but now separated
and valued in the king's books at £6. 4. 9½.; the vicarial tithes have been commuted for £330, with a glebe of
45 acres; and tithes belonging to the Bishop of Oxford,
who is patron of the living, for £155, with 5½ acres.
The church is a plain structure in good repair, and consists of a nave, chancel, north aisle, south porch, and
tower: the elaborate rood-loft, which existed at the
close of the last century, has disappeared, with the exception of a small remnant over the priest's door. There
is a place of worship for Wesleyans. A spot called
Castleyard is supposed to be the site of an ancient
castle.

Sibbertswold (St. Andrew)

SIBBERTSWOLD (St. Andrew), a parish, in the
union of Dovor, hundred of Bewsborough, lathe of
St. Augustine, E. division of Kent, 6¼ miles (N. W.)
from Dovor; containing 408 inhabitants. It comprises
1836 acres, of which 123 are in wood. The living is a
vicarage, with that of Coldred annexed, valued in the
king's books at £6; net income, £255; patron, the
Archbishop of Canterbury. The church is principally
in the early English style. Three-Barrow Down, in the
parish, is so named from three large tumuli or barrows,
connected with each other by deep trenches, and occupying the hill between Denhill-terrace and the edge of
Barham Downs. To the east of Long-Lane farm are
other lines of intrenchment, with similar barrows or
tumuli, supposed to be of Roman origin.

Sibdon-Carwood

SIBDON-CARWOOD, a parish, in the union of
Church-Stretton, hundred of Purslow, S. division
of Salop, 7 miles (S. E. by E.) from Bishop's-Castle;
containing 59 inhabitants. This parish, which is on the
road from Ludlow to Bishop's-Castle, is wholly the property of James Baxter, Esq., of Sibdon Castle. The
neighbourhood abounds with features of interest. The
living is a perpetual curacy; net income, £50; patron
and impropriator, Mr. Baxter. The church was rebuilt
in 1741, and is a handsome structure, situated on an
eminence commanding a most extensive view.

Sibford-Ferris

SIBFORD-FERRIS, a hamlet, in the parish of
Swalcliffe, union of Banbury, hundred of Bloxham,
county of Oxford, 7¼ miles (W. S. W.) from the town
of Banbury; containing 287 inhabitants.

Sibford-Gower

SIBFORD-GOWER, a hamlet, in the parish of
Swalcliffe, union of Banbury, hundred of Bloxham,
county of Oxford, 7¾ miles (W. by S.) from Banbury;
containing 534 inhabitants. The tithes were commuted
for land in 1773. A church has been built, containing
500 sittings, 340 of which are free: it is dedicated to
the Trinity; and the living is a perpetual curacy in the
gift of the Vicar, with an income of £100. One-third of
the rent of the poor's estate is paid to a schoolmaster.

Sibsey (St. Margaret)

SIBSEY (St. Margaret), a parish, in the union of
Boston, W. division of the soke of Bolingbroke, parts
of Lindsey, county of Lincoln, 5¼ miles (N. N. E.)
from Boston; containing 1431 inhabitants, and comprising by measurement 5290 acres. The living is a
discharged vicarage, valued in the king's books at
£11. 11. 3., and in the patronage of the Crown; net
income, £315. The tithes were commuted for land and
money payments in 1810; the glebe comprises 146
acres. The church is a handsome structure in the early
English style, with portions of Norman architecture.
In the parish are two places of worship for Wesleyans;
and a parochial school, founded in 1723 by the parishioners, is endowed with land now producing £97 a year.
There is also an income of £35 arising from land allotted at the inclosure, for the poor.

Sibson

SIBSON, a hamlet, in the parish of Stibbington,
union of Stamford, hundred of Norman-Cross, county
of Huntingdon, 1½ mile (S. E.) from Wansford; containing 123 inhabitants.

Sibson, or Sibstone (St. Botolph)

SIBSON, or Sibstone (St. Botolph), a parish, in
the hundred of Sparkenhoe, S. division of the county
of Leicester, 4 miles (W. S. W.) from Market-Bosworth; containing, with the township of Upton, and
the hamlet of Wellesborough with Temple Hall, 504
inhabitants, of whom 280 are in Sibson township.
The living is a rectory, valued in the king's books at
£15. 18. 11½.; income, £962; patrons, the Master and
Fellows of Pembroke College, Oxford. The tithes were
commuted for land and a money payment in 1807.

Sibthorpe (St. Peter)

SIBTHORPE (St. Peter), a parish, in the union
of Bingham, S. division of the wapentake of Newark
and of the county of Nottingham, 6¾ miles (S. S. W.)
from Newark; containing 154 inhabitants. This place
was anciently of some importance, and was the residence
of the Burnell family, of whose spacious mansion, however, no remains now exist. The parish is situated on the
Cardike, and comprises by measurement 900 acres, of
which two-thirds are arable, and 11 acres in woodland.
The living is a donative, in the patronage of the Duke
of Portland; net income, £20. The church was originally much larger than it is at present; the aisles have
been taken down, and the pillars and lofty arches of the
nave are now worked into the wall of the building. In
the reign of Edward II., Thomas de Sibthorpe founded
a chantry in the church, and subsequently erected it into
a college for a warden, nine chaplains, three clerks, and
four choristers; he also added four chapels, in honour
of St. Anne, St. Katharine, St. Margaret, and St. Mary.
The revenue of the establishment, at the Dissolution, was
estimated at £31. 1. 2. Thomas Secker, Archbishop of
Canterbury, was born here.

Sibton (St. Peter)

SIBTON (St. Peter), a parish, in the union and
hundred of Blything, E. division of Suffolk, 1 mile
(N. W. by W.) from Yoxford; containing 564 inhabitants. It is situated in the eastern part of the county,
and comprises by admeasurement 2800 acres. The living is a discharged vicarage, valued in the king's books
at £8. 8. 4., and in the patronage of J. W. Brooke, Esq.;
impropriators, the landowners. The great tithes have
been commuted for £316. 3. 7., and the vicarial for
£132. 12. 6.; there are 9 acres of glebe. Some extensive remains exist of a Cistercian abbey founded in 1149
by William de Cayneto; it was dedicated to the Blessed
Virgin Mary, and at the Dissolution possessed a revenue of £250. 15. 7. At the gate of the abbey was an
hospital.

Sicklesmere

SICKLESMERE, a hamlet, in the parishes of Great
and Little Welnetham, union of Thingoe, hundred
of Thedwastry, W. division of the county of Suffolk;
containing 273 inhabitants.

Sicklinghall

SICKLINGHALL, a township, in the parish of
Kirkby-Overblows, Upper division of the wapentake
of Claro, W. riding of York, 3 miles (W.) from
Wetherby; containing 226 inhabitants. The township
comprises 1405a. 2r. 2p. Woodhall, a handsome mansion
here, is pleasantly situated, surrounded by plantations,
and commanding beautiful views of Wharfdale. A rentcharge of £86 has been awarded as a commutation for
the tithes, and there is a glebe of 4½ acres. The Wesleyans have a place of worship.

Sidbury (St. Giles)

SIDBURY (St. Giles), a parish, in the union of
Honiton, hundred of East Budleigh, Woodbury and
S. divisions of Devon, 2½ miles (N. N. E.) from Sidmouth; containing 1771 inhabitants. This is a decayed
market-town, and fairs for cattle are still held on the
Tuesday before Ascension-day and at Michaelmas. The
living is a vicarage, valued in the king's books at £28,
and in the gift of the Dean and Chapter of Exeter: the
great tithes have been commuted for £300; and the
vicarial for £615, with a glebe of 5 acres. There is a
place of worship for Independents. On the manor of
Sand is an old mansion with the inscription "Hortus
Johannis Capelli" over the garden door.

Sidbury (Holy Trinity)

SIDBURY (Holy Trinity), a parish, in the union of
Bridgnorth, hundred of Stottesden, S. division of
Salop, 5¼ miles (S. S. W.) from Bridgnorth; containing
94 inhabitants. The living is a discharged rectory,
valued in the king's books at £4. 17. 8½.; net income,
£227; patron, the Earl of Shrewsbury.

Sidcup

SIDCUP, a hamlet, in the parish of Foot's-Cray,
union of Bromley, hundred of Ruxley, lathe of Sutton-at-Hone, W. division of Kent, 3½ miles (S. E.)
from Eltham. There are several gentlemen's seats in
the neighbourhood. St. John's church, Sidcup, was
built chiefly at the cost of Lord Bexley, and Henry
Berens, Esq., and was consecrated in April 1844: great
attention has been paid to the arrangement of the interior, which contains some beautiful carving. The Bishop
of Rochester is patron of the benefice.

Siddington

SIDDINGTON, a chapelry, in the parish of Prestbury, union and hundred of Macclesfield, N. division of the county of Chester, 5 miles (N. by W.)
from Congleton; containing 513 inhabitants, and comprising about 2000 acres, of a sandy soil. The living
is a perpetual curacy; net income, £106; patron and
impropriator, E. D. Davenport, Esq. The chapel is
partly built of wood and plaster, and partly of brick.

Siddington (St. Mary and St. Peter)

SIDDINGTON (St. Mary and St. Peter), a parish,
in the union of Cirencester, hundred of Crowthorne
and Minety, E. division of the county of Gloucester,
1¾ mile (S. S. E.) from Cirencester; containing 469 inhabitants. This place was celebrated for the manufacture of pottery, which was carried on extensively, but
which within the last 40 years has been discontinued:
the site of the works is still called the Pottery Court.
The parish comprises 2018a. 1r. 13p.; the substratum
contains a peculiar stone called Siddington stone, of a
blueish colour, and very durable, which is quarried for
paving, and sometimes for building. The river Churn
and the Thames and Severn canal both intersect the
parish, and from the latter a branch diverges at Siddington-lock to Cirencester: the Cheltenham and Great
Western railway, and the Cirencester and WoottonBasset road, also pass through. The living of St. Mary's
is a rectory, with the discharged vicarage of St. Peter's
united, the former valued in the king's books at
£8. 12. 1., and the latter at £5. 12. 3½.; net income,
£429; patron, the Crown. The tithes were commuted
for land and a money payment in 1778; the glebe comprises 308 acres. The church, dedicated to St. Peter,
combines portions of the various English styles, with
some Norman details; the south door, and the arch
leading into the chancel, are fine specimens of the Norman style. Dr. George Bull, Bishop of St. David's, was
for nearly thirty years incumbent of St. Peter's, and here
composed the principal part of his writings.

Side (St. Mary)

SIDE (St. Mary), a parish, in the union of Cirencester, hundred of Rapsgate, E. division of the county
of Gloucester, 7 miles (E.) from Painswick; containing 43 inhabitants. It comprises an area of 608 acres,
of which the substratum contains stone of good quality
for building and other purposes; the ground is hilly,
the soil various. The living is a rectory, valued in the
king's books at £3. 18. 4., and in the gift of W. Lawrence, Esq.: the tithes have been commuted for £83. 10.,
and the glebe comprises 30 acres.

Sidestrand (St. Michael)

SIDESTRAND (St. Michael), a parish, in the union
of Erpingham, hundred of North Erpingham, E.
division of Norfolk, 3 miles (S. E. by E.) from Cromer; containing 161 inhabitants. This parish, which is
situated on the coast, comprises 436 acres of land, chiefly
arable; the soil is of moderate quality. The living is a
discharged rectory, valued in the king's books at
£5. 10., and in the alternate patronage of the duchy of
Lancaster, and S. Hoare, Esq.: the tithes have been
commuted for £106; the glebe comprises 4 acres, and
the rector receives a rent-charge of £7. 10. out of the
tithes of Trimingham. The church is chiefly in the decorated English style: its ancient circular tower fell
down in 1841.

Sidlesham (St. Mary)

SIDLESHAM (St. Mary), a parish, in the union of
West Hampnett, hundred of Manhood, rape of Chichester, W. division of Sussex, 4 miles (S.) from
Chichester; containing 927 inhabitants. The parish is
situated on the road from Chichester to Selsey, and
bounded on the south by Pagham harbour. Here is a
superior tide-mill, which for justness of principle is
equal to any in the kingdom; it was erected at a considerable expense, by the late Mr. Woodroffe Drinkwater,
under the direction of Benjamin Basle, the inventor of
the machinery, which will grind a load of corn in an
hour. The living is a discharged vicarage, endowed with
a portion of the great tithes, and valued in the king's
books at £7. 10. 10.; net income, £186; patron, the
Prebendary of Sidlesham in the Cathedral of Chichester.
The church is in the early English style, and consists
of a nave, transepts, and aisles, with an embattled
tower at the west end. There is a place of worship for
Wesleyans.

Sidmonton, Hants.—See Sydmonton.

SIDMONTON, Hants.—See Sydmonton.

Sidmouth (St. Nicholas)

SIDMOUTH (St. Nicholas), a sea-port, markettown, and parish, in the union of Honiton, hundred of
East Budleigh, Woodbury and S. divisions of Devon,
13½ miles (E. S. E.) from Exeter, and 158 (W. S. W.)
from London; containing 3309 inhabitants. The earliest
account of this place is in the time of William the Conqueror, who bestowed the manor on the monastery of
St. Michael, in Normandy, from which, during the subsequent wars with France, it was alienated to the abbey
of Sion. In the reign of Elizabeth the manor was
leased to Sir William Perryan, and in that of James I.
to Sir Christopher Mainwaring; it was subsequently sold
to Sir Edmond Prideaux, with the exception of the great
tithes, which were given to Wadham College, and now
belong to the Rev. William Jenkins, the incumbent. The
manor was purchased from Sir Wilmot Prideaux by
Thomas Jenkins, Esq., and is at present the property of
Hughes Hughes Ball, Esq. In the reign of Edward III.,
the town appears to have been governed by a portreeve,
and to have furnished that monarch with two vessels and
25 seamen for his attack on Calais. It is said to have
been famous for its fishery, and to have traded with
Newfoundland: the harbour is supposed, from the discovery of an old anchor and of fragments of vessels, to
have been in the Ham meadow, near the town; it is
choked up with sand and pebbles, and only boats and
fishing-smacks can now approach the shore. The land
to the west once projected much further than at present
into the sea, forming a natural bay, within which vessels
sought shelter in times of danger. In 1836 an act was
passed for making and maintaining a harbour and other
works here; but after expending about £12,000 in collecting materials and building a wall to prevent the encroachment of the sea, it was found impracticable to
complete the undertaking without a very much larger
sum than was anticipated, and the object was therefore
abandoned. To the attractions of Sidmouth as a watering-place, may be attributed its present prosperity.

The town is situated at the entrance of a narrow valley, on a small stream called the Sid, from which it derives its name. The surrounding country is remarkably
picturesque; the hills on the east and west sides are of
great altitude, and extremely precipitous, terminating
abruptly on the shore, and affording shelter to the place.
Though irregularly built, it is very neat; and derives
much beauty from the numerous detached residences
and pleasing villas in its immediate vicinity: among
these is Woolbrook Glen, which was honoured by the
residence of the Duke and Duchess of Kent. Here the
duke died, Jan. 23rd, 1820. The climate is mild; and
the town being sheltered from all winds but the south,
the myrtle, geranium, and other tender plants, thrive in
the open air. The inns and boarding-houses are of the
best description; every accommodation is provided for
sea-bathing, and on the beach is a public walk more than
half a mile in length, fronting which are some warm
baths, public rooms, a library, &c. Assemblies and
concerts take place during the season. The markets, for
the regulation of which an act was passed in 1839, are
on Tuesday and Saturday, and are well supplied; there
are fairs on Easter Monday and Tuesday, and the third
Monday in September. Petty-sessions are held on the first
Monday in every month; and at a court leet and baron
held annually by the lord of the manor, two constables
and tything-men are appointed. The parish comprises
an area of 1539 acres, of which 128 are common or waste
land.

The living is a vicarage, valued in the king's books
at £18. 15. 5., and in the gift of the Rev. W. Jenkins:
the impropriate tithes have been commuted for £200,
and the vicarial for £270; the glebe comprises 23 acres.
The church is an ancient structure, with a well-built
tower; among the monuments is one to the memory
of Dr. Currie, the distinguished biographer of Robert
Burns. A handsome church containing 800 sittings,
and dedicated to All Saints, was consecrated May 7th,
1840; £1500 towards the expense were contributed by
the Rev. J. Bradney, and £600 by Sir J. Kennaway,
who, with others, holds the patronage. There are places
of worship for Independents, Wesleyans, and Unitarians.
A fraternity of Augustine monks is said to have been
settled near the town; and the remains still exist of a
building which tradition affirms to have been a chapel
of ease at a period when Sidmouth belonged to the
parish of Otterton. On the road to the latter place is
an ancient stone cross. The head of a Roman standard
was lately found on the beach; it consists of a centaur
in bronze, and a figure riding behind him, with a panther leaping up in front of the group. The relic is about
eight inches in height, and evidently formed the head of
a standard of the second legion under the Emperor
Carausius in Britain. Sidmouth gives the title of Viscount to the family of Addington.